Digital Commons Network^™

The Cause And Effect Of Contemporary Science Communication, Dina Rathke

Comm-entary

No abstract provided.

Using Education To Confidently Identify And Report Concerns Of Child Abuse And Neglect: A Qualitative Improvement Initiative Through Staff Development, Sarah E. Neilson

Master's Theses and Capstones

BACKGROUND: Pre-licensure education on child abuse and neglect is crucial for nurses in the healthcare field. It helps to equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively identify, report, and intervene in cases of child abuse and neglect. Having this education available and understanding the signs and effects of child abuse and neglect, empowers nurses to take quick and decisive action in early intervention and prevention. Within the microsystem of a local Operating Room (OR), this quality improvement (QI) project will determine the muchneeded addition to the healthcare curriculum.

METHODS: The Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) framework was …

Enhancing Inpatient Sleep Quality In Patients On An Intermediate Care Unit Through Healthcare Staff Education: A Quality Improvement Project, Avery B. Drouin

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background

In the Intermediate Care Unit (IMCU), patients often suffer from poor sleep quality due to continuous overnight care and inherent hospital environment noise. Poor sleep can adversely affect recovery, especially for cardiac patients, who constitute a significant portion of the IMCU population. Improving sleep quality in these patients is essential for their recovery and overall well-being.

Local Problem

Despite the importance of adequate sleep, only 47% of patients in the hospital that houses the microsystem reported a quiet environment at night using the Hospital Compare online survey platform. Disruptions from alarms, phones, and care activities significantly impact sleep quality, …

Improving Postpartum Depression Education Within The Microsystem, Mackenzie A. Sturdevant

Master's Theses and Capstones

BACKGROUND: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a significant mental health issue affecting a substantial percentage of new mothers, ranging from "baby blues" to severe forms like postpartum psychosis. Maternity nurses play a crucial role in early detection and education due to the gap in postpartum care follow-up appointments, which can delay necessary interventions.

LOCAL PROBLEM: Despite the critical role of maternity nurses, there is variability in their preparedness to educate and support patients regarding PPD during the immediate postpartum period. This study aims to enhance maternity nurses' knowledge and confidence in providing PPD education through a quality improvement (QI) project within …

Improving The Postpartum Depression Discharge Education To Increase Quality And Safety Of Care: A Quality Improvement Initiative, Amanda Lucia

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is the most prevalent psychological condition to affect mothers following childbirth which can have detrimental consequences on the physical and mental health of the mother, child, and spouse (Wang et al., 2021). Globally, postpartum depression affects 17.2% of the world population, and in the United States 1 in 8 women who recently gave birth reported symptoms of PPD, and 1 in 10 women reported experiencing a major depressive episode within a year following delivery (CDC, 2023). Patients’ spouses and family members are in a unique position to identify early manifestations of PPD which can lead to …

Sensory Modulation Training To Reduce Restrictive Interventions On An Acute Inpatient Psychiatric Unit At A Secure Psychiatric State Hospital: A Clinical Nurse Leader Quality Improvement Project, Fionna Norman

Master's Theses and Capstones

Abstract

Background: Symptoms of severe mental illnesses can result in Personal Safety Emergencies (PSE’s) in the acute in-patient psychiatric setting. As part of treatment of PSE’s, restrictive interventions such as seclusion are utilized in current practice to maintain the safety of the patient, peers, staff, and the environment. Evidence-based research has shown restrictive interventions can cause physical and psychological harm to both patients and staff. Reducing restrictive interventions continues to be a priority to create the most therapeutic environment possible. Evidence-based research has shown that sensory modulation is a non-restrictive intervention that can reduce the use of restrictive interventions, decrease …

Using The Stop5 Debriefing Model To Increase Utilization Of Debriefing Practice In The Emergency Department: A Quality Improvement Project, Hallie Chancey

Master's Theses and Capstones

Abstract Background: The practice of debriefing has been an important process in critical care settings to promote team unity as well as best care practices. Literature has shown that debriefing can not only influence quality care and improved operations, but the process can also influence the emotional support staff receive. These implications are particularly important for nurses that work in critical care settings as the job can often be stressful and lead to moral distress as well as the need for evidence-based care practices is crucial when a patient’s life is on the line. Literature supports that any form of …

Using Education To Improve Glycemic Management Within An Emergency Department, Rebecca Olson

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) frequently visit acute care facilities for a variety of reasons. Proper management of this comorbidity increases patient safety, satisfaction, and quality care. Patients with persistent dysglycemic events in acute care facilities have an increased risk of complications and death during their stay. Lack of education can contribute to gaps in proper management within this population and therefore must be improved for better patient outcomes.

Methods: The Plan-Do-Check-Act design from the A3 Problem Solving model was used to guide a quality improvement project which focused on improving staff education and confidence surrounding glycemic management. The …

The Benefits Of Prenatal Education Via Virtual And Mobile Applications Before, During, And After Pregnancy: A Quality Improvement Project, Lindsay Farland

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: The advancements of technology has led to a substantial increase in the use of pregnancy applications among expecting parents. Studies indicate that a majority of pregnant individuals utilize virtual education platforms for various purposes, including accessing information on nutrition, exercise, baby development, and pregnancy symptoms. Despite the potential benefits, participation in these platforms remains low, emphasizing a need for enhanced resources and engagement strategies. Research shows that engagement with antenatal education through mobile applications can lead to improved maternal and fetal outcomes, such as reduced rates of caesarean births and fewer complications related to hypertension or preeclampsia.

Methods: …

Wellness In Motion: A Quality Improvement Initiative To Support Resident Mobility And Reduce Falls., San N. Pham

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: Falls are a significant concern in community living centers for older adult veterans. Promoting physical activity and resident engagement is crucial for reducing fall risk among this population.

Local Problem: A specific microsystem within this setting has a fall rate of 3 falls per month. This discrepancy underscores the need for targeted interventions to effectively address this issue.

Methods: This study measured key metrics related to falls and resident engagement in mobility programs both before and after the implementation of an exercise program within the microsystem.

Intervention: The "GIMME 10" exercise program, grounded in evidence-based practices and emphasizing resident-centric …

Adventure’S Role On First-Year Rotc Cadet's Sense Of Belonging And Trust, John Robert Henkelman

Master's Theses and Capstones

In recent years, the United States military has fallen short of recruitment and retention goals. Belonging and trust may be beneficial in developing stronger peer-to-peer bonds in first-year college outdoor orientation programs, but no known study has explored the use of adventure in developing belonging and trust in ROTC orientation programs. Researchers surveyed traditional and adventure-based ROTC orientation programs and compared belonging and trust scores. ROTC programs were then compared to non-military-based outdoor orientation programs from across the United States. Using quantitative analysis, this exploratory study found that both national outdoor orientation programs and adventure-based ROTC orientation programs increase a …

Implementing Of An Informative Poster To Improve Nurse Job Satisfaction In A Medical Surgical Microsystem: A Quality Improvement Project, Stephanie E. Mahoney

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: Nurse job satisfaction is important since the quality of patient care directly depends on the staff and their willingness to continue working. Traditional approaches used in yearly surveys may cover only some aspects that upset nurses, such as workload and training. This project was designed to overcome these limitations by presenting a more extensive and often-used procedure to assess and solve issues regarding the satisfaction level of registered nurses.

Method: In the quality improvement project, data on job satisfaction using the Acute Care Nurses Job Satisfaction Scale (ACNJSS) was collected on job interest, colleague support, recognition, workload, …

Educational Interventions To Improve Icu Nurses’ Knowledge And Confidence Related To Pressure Injuries: A Quality Improvement Initiative, Benjamin R. Maltais

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: The prevalence of pressure injuries (PI) in critical care is highest amongst inpatient units, and are associated with significant complications, decreased quality of life, increased cost of hospitalization, and poor patient care (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2019; Cox et al., 2022; Gorecki et al., 2014; Mervis & Phillips, 2019). Similarly, many PI are considered to be avoidable (Pittman et al., 2019). Despite an increase in focus on PI awareness and prevention, there still remains a challenge for patients in critical care units. In addition, research has indicated that nurses’ lack of basic knowledge of PI (risk assessment, …

Responding To Aggression In Dementia-Related Diseases, Michele Kroll

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

Exploring The Associations Between Being Single, Romantic Importance, And Positive Well-Being In Young Adulthood, Nicole K. Watkins, Jonathon J. Beckmeyer, Tyler B. Jamison

Faculty Publications

Objective: The goal was to explore if perceived romantic relationship importance moderated associations between single status and young adults' positive well-being.

Background: Singlehood is often framed within a deficit framework, with the expectation that being single during young adulthood may be costly for well-being. That approach, however, does not account for young adults' romantic goals, which may shape how being single is connected to well-being.

Method: Participants were 909 American young adults, ages 18–35 (M = 26.6, 51% female, 81% heterosexual, 58% White, non-Hispanic), who completed an online survey in December 2019.

Results: Being single, compared to having a romantic …

How Many Emotional Intelligence Abilities Are There? An Examination Of Four Measures Of Emotional Intelligence, John Mayer, David R. Caruso, Gill Sitarenios, Manolo Romero Escobar

UNH Personality Lab

The ability model of emotional intelligence (EI) specifies that four related abilities are involved: perceiving emotions, facilitating thought using emotions, understanding emotions, and managing them. Several performance-based assessments have been developed to measure those four abilities. Although some researchers find empirical support for the four abilities, others have argued that emotional intelligence divides into three abilities, two or even a single, unitary ability (Legree et al., 2014; Palmer, Gignac, Manocha, & Stough, 2005). We reanalyzed archival data from four ability tests of emotional intelligence, Ns = 503, 5000, 1000, and 2000, conducting item-level exploratory factor models of all four assessments …

Unlocking The Gates Of Change: Exploring The Impact Of Transformational Leadership On Openness Toward Organizational Change, William A. Whipple Iii

M.S. in Leadership

This capstone delves into the contemporary challenge of organizational change, specifically focusing on leadership's influence on employee openness to change. The objective is to provide leaders with practical tools for fostering employee receptivity to change in today's dynamic work environment. This study employs a mixed-method approach involving a literature review and a quantitative survey. The research reveals a positive relationship between transformational leadership and employee openness to change. A 21-item survey evaluates the correlation between five subdimensions of transformational leadership and employee openness. Practical implications suggest that leaders emphasizing inspirational communication can enhance employee openness to future organizational changes, contributing …

Contextualizing Singlehood Among Young Adults: Exploring The Meanings And Perceived Reasons For Being Single, Jonathon J. Beckmeyer, Tyler B. Jamison

Faculty Publications

Objective: We explored how young adults discussed their experiences with singlehood and their reasons for being single.

Background: Despite singlehood being normative during young adulthood, less research has focused on the diversity of singlehood compared to that of romantic involvement.

Method: In Study 1, 35 young adults participated in in-depth qualitative interviews about their romantic histories. We explored singlehood meanings and reasons in the context of their relationship histories. In Study 2 we used data from 155 single young adults to explore the factor structure, internal reliability, and initial validity of the Reasons for Being Single (RBS) scale, which we …

Youth Identity And Postsecondary Decision Making In A Rural State: Evidence Of A College For All Master Narrative, Jayson Seaman, Cindy L. Hartman, Andrew D. Coppens, Erin H. Sharp, Sarah Jusseaume, Molly Donovan

Faculty Publications

This study examined the normative messages that inform youth postsecondary decision making in a predominantly rural state in the northeastern U.S., focusing on the institutionalization and circulation of identity master narratives. Using a multilevel, ecological approach to sampling, the study interviewed 33 key informants in positions of influence in educational, workforce, and quality of life domains. Narrative analysis yielded evidence of a predominant master narrative – College for All – that participants described as a prescriptive expectation that youth and families orient their postsecondary planning toward four-year, residential baccalaureate degree programs. Both general and domain-specific aspects of this master narrative …

Advancing Discovery With Two New Mass Spectrometers, Beth Potier

UNH Today Archive

No abstract provided.

Breaking The Sound Barrier: Pioneering Study Reveals Noise Inequity In Redlined Communities, Nicholas Gosling

UNH Today Archive

No abstract provided.

Telehealth In The Wake Of Covid-19: The Impact Of Telehealth Expansion On Healthcare Access, Utilization, And Outcomes, Deirdre Ann Colburn

Doctoral Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented change to the healthcare industry, including a large and rapid shift to providing care through telehealth technologies. Though the expansion of telehealth services was successful in continuing to provide patients with care while preventing the spread of disease, it is less clear how patient sociodemographic characteristics influenced telehealth use during this time. Similarly, less is known about how or if state-level parity laws influenced rates of individual-level telehealth utilization. To address these areas of research, this dissertation does three things. First, I conducted a systematic review of the literature on demographic disparities in telehealth access, …

Thoughtful Learning: An Investigation Of The Relationships Between College Students’ Achievement Appraisals And Thinking Patterns During Lecture, Shelby Lynn Smith

Doctoral Dissertations

The current set of studies examined whether two common appraisals that students make during learning (whether they have control over their learning and whether they place value into learning the material) give rise to common types of thoughts students also experience (mind wandering, personal connections, and freely-moving thought). Study One naturistically examined students’ appraisals and thoughts while learning in a real classroom. Study Two attempted to experimentally manipulate students’ appraisals and thus their thoughts in an online learning environment. Overall, results suggest that appraisals do seem to influence the thoughts students report experiencing, although results differ between online and classroom …

Parental Bonds And Mental Health Treatment In Adolescence: An Analysis Of Disparities By Race And Sex, Jonni Norman

Master's Theses and Capstones

Awareness of adolescent mental health issues has been rising since the start of the twenty-first century. While certain barriers to adolescent mental health treatment have been alleviated due to the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), racial barriers to treatment still exist. Many studies on racial and gendered disparities consider barriers to mental health treatment, such as stigma. Few examine the role of parents and parental bonds with children as key variables in understanding disparities in treatment. This thesis utilizes data from the 2019 National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), a cross-sectional nationally representative survey, for the …

Interpreting Parenting Plans As Contracts, William B. Reingold Jr.

The University of New Hampshire Law Review

When parents are divorced or separated, a parenting plan serves as a legal instrument to govern the means by which they raise their children. Most parents are able to compromise and reach an agreed-upon parenting plan without resorting to a trial or court intervention. These agreed-upon parenting plans are, in a manner of speaking, contracts that these parents must abide by. But too often parenting plans are not treated or considered in the same way we perceive ordinary contracts. They should be. This essay examines the interplay between courts reviewing agreed-upon plans, the best interest standard, and basic contract interpretation.

Citizen Of The World, Gwendolyn Goguelet

UNH Today Archive

No abstract provided.

Technical Supplement For How Many Emotional Intelligence Abilities Are There? An Examination Of Four Measures Of Emotional Intelligence, John D. Mayer

UNH Personality Lab

No abstract provided.

Paul College Course Analyzes Financial Scandals And Innovations, Aaron Sanborn

UNH Today Archive

No abstract provided.

Fieldwork Safety Program Recognized For Excellence, Beth Potier

UNH Today Archive

No abstract provided.

A Global Exchange: Colsa Summer Scholars Engage In Ag Sciences, Nicholas Gosling

UNH Today Archive

No abstract provided.